wellman



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H P.- WELL'MAN AUTOMOBILE EIIEVA'JLO4 tiled April 12": v1922y V5 sn'etssheej; 1.

1 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 11 1923.

H. P. WELLMAN AUTOMOBILE ELEVATOR Filed April l2, 1.922 5 SheeLS-Sheeb 2 Bec.; H i923.

H. P. WELLMAN 'AUTOMOBILE ELEVATOBv Filed April l2, 1922. 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /N VENTO?.

HAPVEY l? WELL/WAN Patented Dec. lli, 11923.

` than rar carre.

ont sr's HARVEY P. WELLMAN, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE ELEVATOR.

Application filed April 12, 1922. Serial No. 551,853.

The object of the present invention is to.

generally improve and simplify elevators of the character described; to provide an elevator whereby automobiles and like vehicles may be quickly and readily raised from the floor of the garage to an elevated position, where the car will be accessible for inspection, repair, greasing, washing 'and other purposes and whereby work of y'this character may be accomplished in less time and at less expense, and repair pits, such as commonly employed, entirely dispensed with; to provide an elevator which will engage the front and rear axles ofa car only when raising the same, thus leaving the wheels' free for removal, turning or otherwise, and

further permitting operation of the engine,`

transmission with connected parts, adjustmentof brakes, etc.; to provide an elevation which is power actuated both for the purpose of raising and lowering the car, and which is provided with means for preventing accidental release when raising or lowering or otherwise; to provide an elevator which is portable to the extent that it may be readily moved aboutdn a garage, and to provide a structure which is simple, substantial, durable and inexpensive in construction, and which will be elicient and reliable in operation, and well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front View of the elevator.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the elevator.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings in "detail, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the elevator consists of a -base portion comprising cross bars 2 which are inter- `spaced and connected by longitudinal bars 3. Supported by the base is a series of ver- `tical guides or standards as indicated at 4,

5 and 6 which are connected or tied at their upper ends by longitudinal bars 7, and serving as braces for the base and the vertical bars are angularly disposed tie rods or bars as indicated at 8. The entire frame, comprising the base section, the vertical standards and the tie rods or braces 8, may be constructed of channel or angle iron as desired and when connected and bracedas shown forms a substantial and rigid frame. The vertical standards, whether constructed of angle or channel iron, are so arranged thatthey form guides for a lifting platform generally indicated at B. This platform consists of a pair of longitudinally disposed I-beams 9, which are supported at each end by cross-beams 10, the ends of these beams project into the vertical channels formed in the standards 4, 5 and 6 and as such are guided thereby. The I-beams andthe crossbeams forming the lifting platform` are secured with relation to each other in any suitable manner and as suchi form. an integral structure which is raised and lowered between the vertical standards or' guides 4, 45 and 6.v In the present instance an electric motor is employed for this purpose this motor being indicated at C.

Secured adjacent the upper end of the standards are bearing members 14, and extending therethrough and'journalled therein ,is a pair of shafts 15 and 16, one being disposed on each side of the frame. Secured to the uppermost longitudinal frame bars 7 is a pair of bearing members 17 ,and journalled therein is a cross shaft 18, on which is secured a pair of worm pinions 19. These pinions intermesh withgworni gears 20 secured von the respective shafts 15, and 16, and as such transmit a turnino' movement thereto. Power to rotate the lskliafts 15, 16 and 17 is transmitted from the 'motor C by means of a combined belt and chain drive as indicated at 21 and'22, respectively, the belt being carried by a motor pulley 23 and a large or reducing pulley 24, which is secured on an intermediate shaft 25 suitably journalled in the frame, while the chain drive is carried by sprockets 26 and 27, respectively secured onthe shafts 25 and 17. The combined belt and chain drive is provided, for the purpose of speed reduction and as such imparts a fairly slow movement to shaft 17, which movement is again reduced through the worm gears 19 and 20. Shafts 15 and 16 are therefore fairly slowly rotatedv even though the motor speed may be high and it is the turning movementk of shafts 15 and 16 'which is employedfor the purpose of elevating the liftingl platform B; this being accomplished by securing winding drums onl the respective shafts 15 and 16, as shown at 30, and connecting these drums with the lifting platform by flexible cables 31, thus when shafts 15 and 16 are slowlyT rotated in one. direction, the cables will wind about the drums 30 and the platform will be lifted, while. reverse movement will permit paying out of the cables and lowering of the lifting platform.

In actual operation if it is desired to inspect an automobile for repairs or otherwise, it is only necessary to lower the lifting platform until it rests on the floor of the garage.

` The car is then driven between the vertical standards over the platform, and the platform is then slowly raised until the longitudinally disposed I-beams 9 engage the front axle and the rear axle housing. The car is in this manner supported at four oints and will thus rest securely, while it is eing elevated to a suitable height. When so elevated the platform may bepositively locked by perforating the vertical standards as shown at 35 and passing locking pins through the perforations. 4These pins will engage the cross beams 10, if the driving mechanism should accidentally slip or if the cables 31 should break and anydanger of damaging the car or injuring the mechanics working under the Same is thus entirely obviated. In other words the pins are merely employed for safet purposes and lotherwise serve no useful unction.

The motor is provided with a reversing switch, as indicated at 3 6, and is placed in one position when raising the platform and in a reverse position when lowering the same, that is the pitch of the worm gears is such that they are self-locking, thereby adding another safety factor. They therefore require power both when lifting and lowering. The worm gears employed are furthermore right and left hand andas such obviate end thrust on the shaft 17.

Casters or like means may be placed under the base section of the frame to permit the elevator as a whole to be readily moved about from place to place in a garage, and as such permit the elevator to be operated to the best advantage.

The automobilev as previously stated is supported by the I-beams 9 and as such is the case, it can readily be seen that all wheels are left free to turn and may be removed if desired. rlhis is important when greasing the bearings, adjusting them or otherwise. Again, it `can be seen that the engine will be left free to operate and repairs and adjustments in connection therewith can therefore be accomplished. The transmission clutch, propeller shaft, differential and rear axle, may also be driven and the brake bands may be inspected and adjusted as desired. `All parts are left accessible for greasing, oiling, etc., repairs may be readily taken care of, and in fact washing or polishing of an automobile may be quickly accomplished with an elevator of this character as the automobile may be raised to a height where the operator will not have to stoop when washing wheels,

etc.

.While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in. form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly that the materials and finish of the several parts employed ma be such as the experience and judgment ofy the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an elevator of the character described a pair of vertically disposed interspaced side frames, guides for' said side frames, a lifting platform disposed between the sides frames and guided by said guides. a horizontally disposed shaft extending longitudinally of each side frame, lifting drums on said shaft, ca'bles attached at one end to each drum and at their opposite ends to the lifting platform, a transverse shaft disposed between the side frames and journalled therein, a right hand worm gear drive connecting the transverse shaft with one of the longitudinal shafts, a left hand worm gear drive connecting the transverse shaft with the other shaft, and means-for transmitting wer to rotate the transverse shaft in one irection or another.

2. In an elevator of the character described va pair of vertically disposed interspaced side frames, guides for said side frames, a lifting platform disposed between the side frames and guided by said guides, a horizontally disposed shaft extending longitudinally of each side frame, lifting drums on said shaft, cables attached at one end to each drum and at their opposite ends to the lifting platform', a transveise shaft disposed between the side frames and journalled therein, a right hand worm gear drive connectingthe transverse shaft with one of the-longitudinal shafts, a left hand worm gear drive connecting the transverse shaft with the other shaft, a reversible electric motor, and a' speed reducing transmission interposed between the motor and the transverse shaft.

HARVEY P. WELLMAN.l 

